Sadly its been awhile since I've got a report up. I am severely disappointed in my reporting abilities this season, but don't worry I have been fishing plenty! Started reporting strong during kokanee season and really wanted to keep it up to log my fishing season for my own records as well, but failed. Onto some reporting of my home waters on the Snake and Snake/Palouse confluence.

I took the boat out for probably some of my last days of smallmouth fishing over the weekend... will be switching to steelhead soon. Friday evening I got off work in time to put in a couple of hours before dark. Hit a brushy point that I had an epic day on with my wife last year at this time in which I caught nice fifteen inch or greater smallmouth on every cast. Last year I must have caught around twenty fish in this spot. Keep hitting it this year trying to get the timing right and it finally paid off Friday (24th). It wasn't on fire like last year but I caught six quality fish. Enough to make a big batch of beer battered fish and chips for the in-laws and a nice 2.5 lb smallie that jumped and ran and had the old heart a pounding.

Smallmouth fishing on the Snake has been going strong since June and is only now starting to taper off a bit. I fished Saturday morning without so much as a bite (also pulled plugs for steelhead without any action). I have put in probably 30 or more angling days for smallmouth and have consistently caught smallies on each trip. Some days are better than others but there are always fish to be had, and usually some quality 15 inch plus fish. I did not find my three pound fish this season but there is always next year! I caught many fish in the two to three pound range but nothing tipping three. I heard of a four pounder caught up by the Tucannon, but I really don't think there is a strong presence of bigger smallmouth in this stretch of river. Lots of smaller fish, but I noticed this year also a good mix of the 15 inchers. I am a pro at catching chunky two pounders at this point. The body shape of these fish seems like older fish that should be bigger... just one man's opinion.

The Snake is big water with lots of areas to choose from. I would recommend finding some good rock piles as a starting point, as often these smallmouth are chock full of crayfish and craws like rocks. They also seem to gather in water with access to some depth during the active biting season. My favorite spots are all close to 20-25 feet of water but not much deeper and I catch them all the way from right on the shoreline to the depths. Varying structure, points and transitions from rock to brush have all paid off for me. This year I learned some new shallower spots and weed beds that I don't think fish stayed in last year because of warmer river temps.

I would also recommend finding some weed lines and islands/coves again for crayfish feeding in the weeds but also bait fish hold in these areas. I caught one smallie that managed to cram a 4 inch bluegill down its gullet. I was impressed it still bit my bait. Something new to me this year was also sculpin and baby catfish in the smallies. I let plenty of the SMB go but I do keep lots of them. I know many of you are big on C&R. I would say if you haven't tried a smallmouth don't bag it. They are one of the most delicious fish I have eaten and I even prefer them to walleye (which I have caught four or five incidentally while SMB fishing, including one nice five pounder). They are great pan cooked or deep fried and there are tons of fish available in the large Snake River system.

For baits I use anything as long as it is a crank, dropshot or jig. Sometimes I will throw a spinner bait, but rarely. Rat-L-Traps do a lot of work for me in cray and baitfish colors. This year I used a square bill KVD crank in a cray finish and it caught me a few walleye and bass. I dropshot a roboworm in various colors. Jig hula grubs, curly tails and tubes. Crayfish colors are top producers- so plastics in brown with orange accents work well. Also curly tails in white, chartreuse and clear/smoke will produce. The Snake is an awesome place to live and play and I hope you will get to enjoy it soon too, Tight lines.

(The photos are some highlights from the season, from June to October. Caught my friend his first smallie in June, and got my Dad a nice one in July, dates on my fish are June 22, July 2, September 6, and October 13)

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